ABSTRACT
The variety of personalities is not only determined by instinct development and defense mechanisms but also by the formation of the ego ideal. In some individuals the ego ideal is more abstract, directed inward. In others it has to be externalized and gratified by action. The ego ideal of the mother and the primary narcissism of the child find a common expression in the naive realization of the religious legend. It is an extremely instructive example of the existence of a most cruel and exacting superego without formation of a solid ego ideal. It is also a very valuable contribution to the problem of the relationship between superego and ego ideal. Indeed, a large amount of energy goes into the work on transference, and the most important part of it is the regressive process of idealization of the analyst and the efforts of the patient toward identification with him.
